Report: Buxton 2-0 Iron

With an unbeaten run spanning four games under their belts, the Iron would come into their latest pre-season encounter against Buxton FC looking to record a first victory against the Bucks from a previous four attempts, having only previously faced them during their two National League North campaigns.

With regards to the Scunthorpe team selection for the evening's action, first-team manager Andy Butler would name a Starting XI that featured three trialists in the form of Sam Aston, Kameron Ali and Lucas Robinson. Despite anticipation for his return to the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium, former Bucks winger Luke Brennan, who became the Iron’s first summer signing, was unavailable to face his former side with a slight knock.

When proceedings were set underway, the hosts would set the tone for the fixture almost immediately with an early onslaught of attacks on the Scunthorpe goal that forced United into some backs to the wall defending that they dealt with valiantly.

Despite the Iron making a slow start to the fixture, it would take until the 15th minute for the Bucks to issue their first real warning when they very nearly and really should’ve taken the lead. After a pinpoint cross into the area found the run of Buxton’s trialist centre forward in the penalty area, his header would be sent back across goal and into the path of former Fleetwood forward Owen Devonport, who from just a matter of yards out managed to misplace his effort, sending it over the crossbar.

In the minutes that followed this chance, the Bucks would be at it again when Ashton Mee received the ball on the edge of the Scunthorpe area, working a yard of space before driving the ball towards the bottom corner of the target, sneaking the shot beyond Maison Campbell before it cannoned back off the inside of the woodwork.

After what had been a relentless opening 20 minutes of defending from a United perspective, Campbell would be called into action by the Bucks once again in order to keep the scores level when Mee picked up possession on the edge of the area before looking to curl an effort into the corner of the goal, taking a deflection on its way to goal that forced Campbell into a full stretch save down to his left.

With just under half an hour on the clock Scunthorpe would seek their first real opportunity of the game when they sensationally worked the ball through the Buxton thirds before Aston released Dec Howe down the right-hand side. With Howe looking to pick out Aston for the return, his cross would be directed into the path of the midfielder, who did manage to make contact with the delivery but all the sting would be taken away from the shot by a block from a Bucks defender.

Despite this opportunity it still felt as though it was only a matter of time until the hosts took the lead and they proceeded to do just that past the half hour mark when Mee was threaded into the area, forcing another strong stop out of Campbell who could only push the ball as far as Connor Kirby at the back post who tapped the ball home to give his team the advantage.

As half-time approached United would finally begin to establish themselves in the game with a period of possession inside the Buxton half that very nearly resulted in the equaliser when Ali picked up the ball on the right flank and proceeded to swing a delightful cross into the mixer for Declan Howe to bring under his spell, chesting the ball down before looking to apply the finishing touch, although the ball would be robbed away from him at the final moment by the covering defender.

Following the half-time break at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium, the two sides would make an energetic start to the new half. However, it wouldn’t be until the 56th minute that there would be a chance to report when a corner delivery connected with a Buxton head in the area, forcing an extraordinary reflex stop out of Louis Jones to deny the first contact before the follow up chance saw Sisa Tuntulwana crash a header against the post once again.

As the game surpassed the 70-minute mark Scunthorpe would proceed to make wholesale changes to their side, introducing a new squad to the fray which would find themselves two goals down within a matter of minutes.

Ultimately it would be a set-piece routine that undid United as despite there appearing to be a foul on Cal Howe in the area as the ball was whipped into the box, Finn Cousin-Dawson would come steaming onto the ball unmarked to rifle an effort beyond Jones to double his sides advantage and leave the Iron with a mountain to climb.

In an attempt to try and get themselves back in the tie, Scunthorpe would begin to advance forward with the use of their recently introduced fresh legs. However, the closest they would come to pulling back at least one of the two goal deficit would be through winger Pat Jones, as the Welshman burst down the left flank before looking to cross the ball to the far post, whipping the ball over the head of the goalkeeper, forcing Logan Stretch into a moment of panic as it nestled on the roof of the net.

This would be the encounters final notable action as the referee called time on what would be United’s first defeat of their pre-season preparations. With a behind closed doors fixture due to take this coming weekend, it was yet another case of valuable minutes in the tank for Butler’s boys as the seasons start date draws nearer.

IRON: Campbell (L. Jones, 45), Belehouan (Evans, 70), D. Howe (Whitehall, 70), Beestin (Rowley, 70), Smith (P. Jones), Ogle (Carmody, 45), Butterfield (Richards, 70), Shipstone (Uppal, 70), Ali (C. Howe), Aston (Gale, 70), Robinson (Hurst, 70)

ATTENDANCE: 335

REFEREE: Benjamin Tomlinson